By Alesha Capone
Lalor MP Joanne Ryan has renewed calls for the federal government to commit funding to the Wyndham WestLink project.
Earlier this year, Wyndham council’s pre-budget submission to the federal government also requested funding for WestLink, which needs an estimated $50 to $100 million to go ahead.
The first stage of the project would link Armstrong and Ison Roads between Black Forest Road and the Princes Freeway, with a four-lane bridge over the railway line.
A road bridge would also connect Armstrong Road and Sayers Road, over the Werribee River.
Wyndham council and developers have already committed to constructing sections of WestLink that fall within their jurisdiction, on either side of the Ison Road bridge location.
Lendlease have almost completed the construction of a duplicated Ison Road on the north side, from the base of the Ison Road bridge to Armstrong Road.
The council has allocated funding for the construction of a duplicated Ison Road between Princes Highway and the base of the bridge.
As well, the state government has committed $14 million to start work on the Ison Road overpass.
During the last national election, the federal Labor party – now the Opposition – said they would put $50 million towards the project, if they were elected.
Ms Ryan has called on Wyndham residents to join her campaign for federal funding of the Wyndham Westlink ahead of the next federal election, which is due to be held before or during 2022.
Speaking at Parliament House in Canberra last week, Ms Ryan said Wyndham was forecast to become home to half a million residents by 2041, with 70 per cent of this growth to be in Wyndham Vale, Tarneit and Truganina.
“But this growth is failing to be met with infrastructure funding from the Morrison government,” she said.
“This means locals are spending longer in traffic and less time at home with their families.”
Ms Ryan said the first stage of WestLink would link Werribee and Wyndham Vale and “save precious time for those commuting to Melbourne and Geelong, by connecting them to the freeway”.
“It will ease congestion on suburban streets because commuters will not travel through the heart of Wyndham to access the freeway,” she said.
The federal government was contacted for comment.
